Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1887-10-22

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and amiability, and affection for her
husband aud children, there was some
thing like a tWinge Of envy entered my
breast; for I am an old bachelor. and
never before had fully appreciated
the happiness Of welded life as enjoyed
by two such trusting and loving hearts.
That night after supper as we sat on
the porch enjoying our cigars and the
cool breeze from the gulf, I said:
"Now Pres. for the story about the
magi who put you in possession of such
pretty and interesting wife and chii-
dren, and such coy. comfortable
home.
Wei" he commenced, "the last let
ter you received from me I was with
Cooper and Baily, wasn't I?"
ayes, said
AWell, I quit them after one season,
and followed the fairs. had pretty
good success, for you see a balloon is a
drawing card to country fairs and the
managers didn't mind paying me fancy
prices Wei, seven years ago last fall
L came to Jacksonville to make as
tensions during the fair. was In a
pretty bad fix financially, having lust
recovered from a three months spell OF
fever in Mobile, which nearly left me
broke. Well, L was to make six as
tensions for $500. I got to Jackson
vile on Saturday, and made my first
ascension on Monday; it was also my
last 1 had not fully recovered my
strength, and should not have at
tempted a high ascension; but I never
thought Of that, and inflated my old
balloon until she was as tight as a
drum. She shot upward like a rocket,
and strong wind caught her and sent
her southwark in a hurry. She began
to des end in about a mile and a half
from town, and I Thought sure she
would come down right in a thick
wood, but she missed that and came
down in a tree in the backyard
Of a farm house. Well, when
got in fifty feet of the tree
top quickly unlocked the life lines
from my waist and prepared to catch a
AA4A4Aa Il DtA 4AA4GA i Auh CT u16 44AD 44AGzg
but was so weak could hardly set
on the bar that day and thought il
best to use them. Well L succeeded
in catching hold of a limb, but was so
weak and exhausted that I could not
retain my grasp, so L went tumbling
down through the tree like a squirrel
that had been shot fell heavily on
my left side and broke nv lett lee Just
above the ankle gentleman who
was standing in the rear door of his
house saw me- coming down, aud was
ut nv side the moment 1 struck the
ground. Finding that my leg was
broken, he ran to the house and rang
the farm hell, which soon brought some
hired men from q field, who carried me
into the house and deposited me on the
bed, after which one Of them mounted
a horse and started in hot haste after
IL physician The gentleman who had
first come to my assistance, and to
whom the farm belonged, said to me:
MY friend, yOu have met with
pretty serious accident. and
49, aAA+ III FOus
The wagon which followed you from
town to carry you and your balloon
back Is ut the gate; but You need
not go unless yOu wish, for you are
more than welcome to remain mere
until yOu recover"
1 thanked him as we'll as my suffering
would allow, and informed him that ]
certainly preferred remaining where I
was if it would not be too great an in
convenience to him and his family.
"NO inconvenience at all, " he cheer
fully replied; just make yourself easy
on that point. All the woman folks
are in town attending the fair. When
they return, we viii try and make you
more comfortable"
The doctor came and set my broken
limb, after which L got along nicely,
though i was three months before I
could again walk without my cruteh.
Well, after 1 had fully recovered and
was able to work, told the old gentle
man that if he would give me employ
ment on his farm that I would quit
the balloon business and turn
granger. He offered me SIS month
and my board, which gladly accepted,
and L worked for him twelve months.
L tell you it was terrible hard on me-
working for S15 month, when had
always made more than that a day"
"WeIl, what in creation did you do it
for?" said, thinking that he had
acted very foolishly.
well, you see" he replied, "the
old gentleman had a beautiful daugh-
ter who, by her kindness and attention
to me while I was crippled, and her
dutiful, affectionate consideration for
her parents completely won my heart.
1 soon discovered that I occupied first
place in her affection; but 1 knew that
her parents would never consent to her
marrying n ballOonist; so L turnel
farmer In order 0 win her. I intended,
as soon as we were married, to return
to my old profession, but her father
gave NE this place. and every hing per
tanning to it as soon as We were mar
ried. so 1 concluded to remain here as
long as live. woulI not give one
day Of this quiet, peaceful, eontented
life for year of such as led before 1
was married
you are right, exclaimed and
You should thank God that You met
with that accident on your last aeriAI
trip"
Il do, Jub I do, he earnestly ex-
claimed